Alleged shooter of 2-year-old girl arraigned

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LOCKPORT – The man who allegedly shot a 2-year-old Niagara Falls girl in the face Nov. 27 was arraigned Friday in Niagara County Court.

Judge Matthew J. Murphy III set bail at $200,000 for Willie R. Scott Jr., 32, of LaSalle Avenue in the Falls. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree criminal use of a firearm.

Police have said they believe the girl was shot accidentally while sitting in a car with a man whom they believe was the real target. The shooting occurred in front of the Hometown Market on Pierce Avenue.

Deputy District Attorney Doreen M. Hoffmann said there is still a fragment from a .357-caliber bullet in the left cheek of the girl, who turned 3 earlier this month. Another fragment struck her in front of the right ear. Hoffmann said three rounds were fired at the car.

She sought to have defense attorney Angelo Musitano disqualified from the case because he had once represented the victim’s mother, in a misdemeanor case in Niagara Falls. The mother is a witness in the shooting.

Musitano said he had represented the mother, but that shouldn’t be enough to disqualify him. Murphy said he will decide the question Feb. 21.